The C.U.M. Shooters Analysis of Scarlet Letter Introduction: The Custom House
Perhaps the reason for starting the novel in this manner is to give the reader a different vantage point than what you will have throughout the rest of the novel.
Quote 1 - "But she has no great tenderness, even in her best of moods, and, sooner or later - oftener sooner than late - is apt to fling off her nestlings, with a scratch of her claw, a dab of her beak, or a rankling wound from her barbed arrows," (Hawthorne 271). Analysis - This quote possibly relates to the ending of the novel because it talks about how government and the hierarchy will eventually turn their backs on you. Many of the characters in Scarlet Letter will possibly be thrown aside when the truth comes out.
Quote 2 - "Cluster all these individuals together, as they sometimes were, with other miscellaneous ones to diversify the group, and, for the time being, it made the Custom House a stirring scene," (Hawthorne 272). Analysis - Just like in the novel, all these individual characters have been joined in one setting and created a "stirring scene" full with controversy.
Quote 3 - "Poking and burrowing into the heaped up rubbish in the corner, unfolding one and another document, and reading the names of vessels that had long ago foundered at sea...," (Hawthorne 294). Analysis - One time, I (Matthew McEntire) was at my grandparents house cleaning out files of a file cabinet that had been stowed away in a corner. As we were looking through them we came across a folder that contained a plethora of my great great grandfather's letters during the Civil War. We were so entertained by these letters we did not finish cleaning out the cabinet.
Chapter 1: The Prison Door
The prison door relates symbolically to the scarlet letter because it is an opening to the darkness of questions and secrets, just like the scarlet letter.
Chapter 2: The Marketplace
Ain't never been there they tell me it's nice
I live in [[#|hotels]] tear out the walls
I have accountants pay for it all
They say I'm crazy but I have a good time
(Everybody say oh, yeah.....OH,YEAH)
I'm just looking for clues at the scene of the crime
Life's been good to me so far
My Maserati does 185
I lost my license now I don't drive
I have a limo ride in the back
I lock the doors in case I'm attacked
I'm making records my fans they can't wait
They write me letters tell me I'm great
So I got me an office gold records on the wall
Just leave a message maybe I'll call
Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through
Everybody says I'm cool (He's cool)
I can't complain but sometimes I still do
Life's been good to me so far
I go to parties sometimes until four
It's hard to leave when you can't find the door
It's tough to handle this fortune and fame
Everybody's so different I haven't changed
They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time
Everybody says Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
I keep on going guess I'll never know why
Life's been good to me so far This song connects to Hester's flashbacks of before her punishment, when her "life [had] been good to [her] so far". The line "... can't find the door" connects with the prison door. The line "Life's been good to me so far" shows the nostalgic mood of Hester's flashbacks. Chapter 3: The Recognition Reasons for title
1. Hester recognizes her husband standing in the crowd who she hasn't seen since she left him.I have a mansion forget the price
2. It is revealed during this chapter that Dimmesdale is going to be a major character throughout the novel. As well he will be in the center of the controversy.
3. We realize the true meaning of the scarlet letter - adultery. And it is clear the letter will be a reoccurring symbol throughout the novel.
Chapter 6: Pearl
Just like Curious George, Pearl has a knack for mischief because of her curiosity, such as fascination with her mom's scarlet letter. Chapter 7: The Governor's Hall"Thou must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee."
This quote explains the central conflict between Hester and Pearl due to the drastically different outlooks they have on life. Hester is in a very dark and depressed mood due to the sins she has commited and the fact that she has to carry them around with her on her bosom. On the other hand, Pearl is very lifely and full of childish wonder. This explains why Hester says to her child she has no sunshine to give her for she must use her own sunshine.
This can relate to people who are clinically depressed because those people, no matter how much good is surrounding them, cannot find the sunshine in their life. Chapter 8: The Elf-Child and the MinisterIs Hester an unfit mother?
Hester is both a fit and unfit mother. She cares deeply about Pearl and expresses her love in many ways. However, Hester also fails to defend Pearl when she is made fun of by the people in the community. Perhaps this is because Pearl is a symbol of the failure in Hester's life.
Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale relate to Scar and Mufasa of the Lion King. Like in the Scarlet Letter the characters in Lion King have a certain animostity torwars each other (Scar wants to kill Mufasa but Mufasa continues to like him because he is his brother). Dimmesdale knows there is something up with Chillingworth yet he continues to take his medicine. Also Pearl and Simba are similar becuase they are two children that grow up with adult situations all around them and they must get over them.
Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart "To the untrue man, the whole universe is false - it is palpable - it shrinks to nothing within his grasp. And he himself, in so far as he shows himself in a false light, becomes a shadow, or, indeed, ceases to exist." http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=4693657
The entire world knows who Tiger Woods is, he is a sports legend. His fault or "scarlet letter" was that he commited adultery. He was on top of the world and it all came crashing down due to his "untrue[ness]". It relates to the novel with the affair between Hester and Dimmesdale and Woods' affair with numerous girls. Tiger Woods fooled the world with his false purity and fell into an immediate shadow. Chapter 13: Another View of Hester
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Chapter 18: A Flood of SunshineThe minister has changed because he has become accepting of his sin and understands his place as Pearl's father. He has matured from the beginning of the novel where he was embarrased of his adultery. The author suddenly calls the minister Arthur Dimmesdale because in the previous chapter the minister takes his postion as the father of Pearl. Final Assignments
Hawthorne chose Hester to raise a daughter and not a son because there is more of a connection between mother and daugheter than mother and son. A mother and daughter must go through the same emotional obstacles as each other. As well, young daughters tend to be more innocent than young sons.
Chillingworth committed the greatest sin because he sought revenge against Dimmesdale. This sin of revenge is unforgiveable, unlike adultery which can be forgiven over time.
Introduction: The Custom House
Perhaps the reason for starting the novel in this manner is to give the reader a different vantage point than what you will have throughout the rest of the novel.
Quote 1 - "But she has no great tenderness, even in her best of moods, and, sooner or later - oftener sooner than late - is apt to fling off her nestlings, with a scratch of her claw, a dab of her beak, or a rankling wound from her barbed arrows," (Hawthorne 271).
Analysis - This quote possibly relates to the ending of the novel because it talks about how government and the hierarchy will eventually turn their backs on you. Many of the characters in Scarlet Letter will possibly be thrown aside when the truth comes out.
Quote 2 - "Cluster all these individuals together, as they sometimes were, with other miscellaneous ones to diversify the group, and, for the time being, it made the Custom House a stirring scene," (Hawthorne 272).
Analysis - Just like in the novel, all these individual characters have been joined in one setting and created a "stirring scene" full with controversy.
Quote 3 - "Poking and burrowing into the heaped up rubbish in the corner, unfolding one and another document, and reading the names of vessels that had long ago foundered at sea...," (Hawthorne 294).
Analysis - One time, I (Matthew McEntire) was at my grandparents house cleaning out files of a file cabinet that had been stowed away in a corner. As we were looking through them we came across a folder that contained a plethora of my great great grandfather's letters during the Civil War. We were so entertained by these letters we did not finish cleaning out the cabinet.
Chapter 1: The Prison Door
The prison door relates symbolically to the scarlet letter because it is an opening to the darkness of questions and secrets, just like the scarlet letter.
Chapter 2: The Marketplace
Ain't never been there they tell me it's nice
I live in [[#|hotels]] tear out the walls
I have accountants pay for it all
They say I'm crazy but I have a good time
(Everybody say oh, yeah.....OH,YEAH)
I'm just looking for clues at the scene of the crime
Life's been good to me so far
My Maserati does 185
I lost my license now I don't drive
I have a limo ride in the back
I lock the doors in case I'm attacked
I'm making records my fans they can't wait
They write me letters tell me I'm great
So I got me an office gold records on the wall
Just leave a message maybe I'll call
Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through
Everybody says I'm cool (He's cool)
I can't complain but sometimes I still do
Life's been good to me so far
I go to parties sometimes until four
It's hard to leave when you can't find the door
It's tough to handle this fortune and fame
Everybody's so different I haven't changed
They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time
Everybody says Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
I keep on going guess I'll never know why
Life's been good to me so far
This song connects to Hester's flashbacks of before her punishment, when her "life [had] been good to [her] so far". The line "... can't find the door" connects with the prison door. The line "Life's been good to me so far" shows the nostalgic mood of Hester's flashbacks.
Chapter 3: The Recognition
Reasons for title
1. Hester recognizes her husband standing in the crowd who she hasn't seen since she left him.I have a mansion forget the price
2. It is revealed during this chapter that Dimmesdale is going to be a major character throughout the novel. As well he will be in the center of the controversy.
3. We realize the true meaning of the scarlet letter - adultery. And it is clear the letter will be a reoccurring symbol throughout the novel.
Chapter 6: Pearl
Just like Curious George, Pearl has a knack for mischief because of her curiosity, such as fascination with her mom's scarlet letter.
Chapter 7: The Governor's Hall"Thou must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee."
This quote explains the central conflict between Hester and Pearl due to the drastically different outlooks they have on life. Hester is in a very dark and depressed mood due to the sins she has commited and the fact that she has to carry them around with her on her bosom. On the other hand, Pearl is very lifely and full of childish wonder. This explains why Hester says to her child she has no sunshine to give her for she must use her own sunshine.
This can relate to people who are clinically depressed because those people, no matter how much good is surrounding them, cannot find the sunshine in their life.
Chapter 8: The Elf-Child and the MinisterIs Hester an unfit mother?
Hester is both a fit and unfit mother. She cares deeply about Pearl and expresses her love in many ways. However, Hester also fails to defend Pearl when she is made fun of by the people in the community. Perhaps this is because Pearl is a symbol of the failure in Hester's life.
Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale relate to Scar and Mufasa of the Lion King. Like in the Scarlet Letter the characters in Lion King have a certain animostity torwars each other (Scar wants to kill Mufasa but Mufasa continues to like him because he is his brother). Dimmesdale knows there is something up with Chillingworth yet he continues to take his medicine. Also Pearl and Simba are similar becuase they are two children that grow up with adult situations all around them and they must get over them.
Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart
"To the untrue man, the whole universe is false - it is palpable - it shrinks to nothing within his grasp. And he himself, in so far as he shows himself in a false light, becomes a shadow, or, indeed, ceases to exist."
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=4693657
The entire world knows who Tiger Woods is, he is a sports legend. His fault or "scarlet letter" was that he commited adultery. He was on top of the world and it all came crashing down due to his "untrue[ness]". It relates to the novel with the affair between Hester and Dimmesdale and Woods' affair with numerous girls. Tiger Woods fooled the world with his false purity and fell into an immediate shadow.
Chapter 13: Another View of Hester
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Chapter 18: A Flood of Sunshine The minister has changed because he has become accepting of his sin and understands his place as Pearl's father. He has matured from the beginning of the novel where he was embarrased of his adultery. The author suddenly calls the minister Arthur Dimmesdale because in the previous chapter the minister takes his postion as the father of Pearl.
Final Assignments
Hawthorne chose Hester to raise a daughter and not a son because there is more of a connection between mother and daugheter than mother and son. A mother and daughter must go through the same emotional obstacles as each other. As well, young daughters tend to be more innocent than young sons.
Chillingworth committed the greatest sin because he sought revenge against Dimmesdale. This sin of revenge is unforgiveable, unlike adultery which can be forgiven over time.